Chargers ‘Royally’ screwed by RCB

Match 59(3rd place play-off): Gilchrist summed up the game for DC when he said “We have saved our worst for the last”. Although the 2 teams had lost their semi finals, a lot was riding on this match for both the teams as they had an opportunity book their place in CLT20. But it looked like only one team had turned up for the game and it was RCB. Deccan Chargers were abysmal, being bowled out for 82(Lowest score in IPL3) which was a result of bad shot selection and some tight bowling from the Bangalore boys. It was that kind of a day when nothing went right for the boys in blue. Anirudh scored half the runs, only 2 batsmen reached double figures, 4 batsmen made no score and the last four wickets added nothing which says a lot. Bangalore knocked off the runs with 9 wickets in hand to book their spot in the Champions League.

Bangalore Royal Challengers Innings

Bangalore had lost to DC in the 2 league matches this year but tonight they were not going to let that happen more so after having dismissed DC for only 82. There was only way that DC could make a match out of this hopeless situation and that was to take wickets and that explained the test- like field for most part of the chase. However there were no miracles tonight as Rahul Dravid (35) and Kevin Pietersen (29) knocked off the runs after Jacques Kallis departed taking a 2 run lead over Sachin. PHOTOS

Deccan Chargers Innings

DC made 4 changes to their side and RCB had 3 changes for this all-important 3rd place playoff match. Gilchrist won the toss and as has been the case so far at DY Patil stadium decided to bat first. Kumble opened for RCB and everyone was interested to see if Gilchrist might write a different script after failing for 15 games on the trot with the bat. He started well by smashing the first ball for four, but then he smashed a middle stump full toss straight to the fine-leg bringing back memories of last year’s final when Kumble bowled him in the first over. That shot set the tone for the rest of the innings. Deccan were struggling at 15/3 with Praveen trapping Monish Mishra in front and Rohit Sharma throwing his wicket yet again. Dale Steyn dropped a sitter from Symonds off Praveen but he made up for that by picking up the wicket of Symonds in the next over. Dwayne Smith was done in by a google from Kumble. Half the side was back in the dugout for only 35 runs in the 9th over. Venugopal Rao and Anirudh brought tried to attempt a recovery but Kallis came to the party by snaring Anirudh who top scored for chargers (40). Venugopal Rao was the only hope if Chargers had to reach 100 but Nayan Doshi who was making his IPL debut for Bangalore sent back Rao for 24. Kumble started the processesion and he ended it too by coming back and taking 2 more wickets to finish with 4 for 16 in 21 balls. PHOTOS